Ribbon handling mechanism



Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-$heet 1Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 mm mm mm G 7 SW Wm B hm/ m av w I QkmINVENTOR PAUL E PAGE ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE 3,302,766

RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 2L H BRow Fo T E R WF X H B O N 0 INV'ENTOR PAUL E PAGE BY @Wm ATTORNEYSFeb. 7, 1967 P PAGE RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Sept. 12, 1962 Fig.3A

INVENTOR PAUL F. PAGE 4 ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 p PAGE 3,302,766

RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISM Original. Filed Sept. 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet4 PATH 0F Mono/v 0F FIN 68 I; 3 27p F |g.4B D

I mm 0F Monav of PIM 386' PATH OF MOTION 0F PM! 42 PATH 05 MOTIOIV/ FPl/V42 To INVENTOR PAUL E PAGE (fclimml/Mwwm ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 P.F. PAGE 3,302,766

RIBBON HANDLI NG MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 9 Sheets-$heet5 INVENTOR PAUL E PAGE BY 6 CSVQM ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE3,302,766

RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 9 SheetsSheet 6INVENTOR PA L F. PAGE ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE RIBBON HANDLINGMECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 mum mmm mvINVENTOR ATTORNEYS NM wk Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE RIBBON HANDLINGMECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Sept. 12, 1962 INVENTOR PAULIF PAGE ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 P. F. PAGE RIBBON HANDLING MECHANISMOriginal Filed Sept. 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Fig -20 INVENTOR PAUL EPAGE ATTORNEYS United States Patent Claims. (Cl. 197-1ss This is adivision of application Serial No. 223,159 filed September 12, 1962.

This invention relates to ribbon handling mechanism for a power operatedwriting machine and more particularly to a ribbon handling mechanism foruse in a matrix type electric typewriter. v

Mechanisms of the general type here under consideration have been incommercial use for some time and usually operate satisfactorily butuneconomically and with some inconvenience. Such a mechanism, asdisclosed, for example, in US. Patents 2,919,008 and 2,902,136, isgenerally satisfactory where a one or two color reversible fabric ribbonis used but has certain inherent disadvantages when a carbon ribbon isbeing used, particularly in a matrix type machine. In such a machine thecapacities of the carbon ribbon supply and take-up spools are relativelysmall as compared to those in a basket machine. As a conventional carbonribbon cannot be reversed for re-use, its extent of utility isrelatively small thus necessitating frequent replacement resulting ininconvenience, loss of time, and wastage of ribbon as less than half ofthe ribbon is used.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide aribbon handling mechanism for a matrix type electric typewriter thatsubstantially extends the ribbons period of use and accordinglysubstantially reduces the incidence of ribbon replacement and theinconvenience and loss of time attendant thereto.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism that is simple and sturdy,of light-weight construction, and capable of efficient and silentoperation over an extended service-free period of use.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawing wherein there is shown one embodiment of the inventionand wherein similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the vibrator mechanism;

FIGURE 1A is an elevation of a vibrator arm;

FIGURE 1B is a fragmentary elevation showing the relation between thevibrator and printing head;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation showing a portion of the vibrator mechanismin normal or inactive position;

FIGURE 2A is a diagrammatic view of the several parts of the mechanismin their transition from the FIG- URE 2 to the FIGURE 3 position;

FIGURE 3 is an active view showing the vibrator moved upwardly from itsFIGURE 1 position;

FIGURE 3A is a diagrammatic view showing the transition of the partsfrom the FIGURE 3 to the FIGURE 4 position;

FIGURE 4 is an active view showing the vibrator at full stroke up withthe lower portion of the ribbon opposite the printing position;

FIGURE 4A is a composite of FIGURES 2A and 3A;

FIGURE 4B is a chart showing the movement of the vibratorthrough a fullstroke cycle of operation;

FIGURE 5 is an active view showing the vibrator at half stroke down onreturn to its FIGURE 1 position;

FIGURE 6 is a view showing the vibrator in inactive position but incondition for a half stroke cycle;

FIGURE 7 is an active view showing the vibrator at half stroke up in thehalf stroke cycle;

FIGURE 8 is an illustration of a piece of used conventional carbonribbon;

FIGURE 9 is an illustration of a piece of carbon ribbon as it appearsafter use in the vibrator of this invention;

FIGURE 10 is an illustration of copy resulting from the use of eitherthe FIGURE 8 or FIGURE 9 ribbon;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of a cam ratchet and pawl combinationcomprising part of the vibrator;

FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of the cam, ratchet and pawl combinationshown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary isometric view of one of the pawls of FIGURE12 and an actuating cam therefor;

FIGURE 14 is a top view of the ribbon feed mechanism employed incombination with the vibrator;

FIGURE 14A is a detail of a portion of the FIGURE 14 mechanism;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary isometric view of the ribbon feed drive;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary exploded isometric view of the left handportion of the ribbon feed mechanism, the ribbon spool support beingshown in section;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional elevation of a carbon ribbon spool and thesupport therefor;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional elevation of a fabric ribbon spool and thesupport therefor;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a ribbon cartridge; and

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary exploded isometric View of the right handportion of the ribbon feed mechanism.

Ribbon supports and vibrator arm drive As shown in FIGURE 1 a portion 20of the typewriter frame supports a bracket 21 which carries a shaft 22on which a ribbon vibrator assembly, generally indicated at 23, isrockably mounted. Vibrator 23 includes a pair of arms 24- and 25provided respectively with ribbon supports 13b and 27 for a ribbon Rwhich is adapted to be fed unidirectionally during successive typingoperations in a manner described below. Arms 24 and 25 are substantiallysimilar to the right of shaft 22 and are joined by a pin 26 whichanchors one end of a return spring 26a, the other end of which isfastened to frame 20, spring 26a biasing the arms downwardly to theirnormal or rest position. Ribbon supports and 27 are respectively controlled in their vertical reciprocatory movement by frame supportedguides 28 and 29 which have cam slots 28a and 29a adapted to receive camfollower pins 30 and 31 respectively. Pins 30 and 31 are secured to theends of crank levers 32 and 33 respectively which are integrally formedwith their respective ribbon supports 130 and 27 and are pivotallymounted to the ends of arms 24 and 25 by pins 24a and 25a. Thus, as thevibrator assembly 23 is rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 1),to elevate the ribbon supports, the ends of arms 24 and 25 follow anarcuate path which would cause the ribbon supports to follow an arcuatepath were it not for the shape of the cam slots 28a and 29a. That is tosay, that the path of motion of the ribbon supports is adjusted andchanged by the cam follower pins 30 and 31 which engage the cam slots28a and 29a to pivot the ribbon supports around their respective pins24a and 25a. Thus, by shaping the arcuate cam slots 28a and 29a to benon-concentric with the arcuate paths of movement of arms 24 and 25, theribbon supports may be positioned in a vertical plane during the rockingof arms 24 and 25, thereby to present ribbon R in a vertical plane atthe printing posi tion. In other words, the arcuate movement of arms 24and 25 is converted into linear vertical movement of supports 13th and27. Conventional carbon ribbon usually measures about for reasonsdetailed below I prefer 3 to use a carbon ribbon about A2 wide.Accordingly, the depth of the ribbon receiving slots 13% and 27a insupports 130 and 27 is slightly greater than /2, the supports beingprovided with ribbon retaining fingers 26b and 27b which help tomaintain the ribbon flat in a vertical plane as it is reciprocatedduring operation of the vibrator.

An actuating arm, generally indicated at 34, is pivotally mounted on apin 35 carried by frame and includes a crank 36 and a bifurcated drivearm 37, crank 36 and arm 37 being secured together in any suitablemanner so as to oscillate as a unit about pin 35. As shown in FIG- URE2, the lower end 36a of crank 36 is bifurcated to receive a pin 38carried by a lever 39 fastened to a drive shaft 40 adapted to beoscillated by a suitably driven bell crank 70 (FIGURE 1B) wherebyactuating arm 34 is rocked forth and back about pin 35.

The two sides 37a and 37b (FIGURE 1) of drive arm 37 have identicalelongated slots 41 formed respectively therein through which extends apin 42 that also extends through a slot 43 formed in a bichrorne lever44 whose lower end is pivotally connected to frame 26 in any suitablemanner. It may be seen that pin 42 may ride forth and back in slots 41.and up and down in slot 43 for a purpose described below.

As shown in FIGURE 1A vibrator arm includes a body 45 and a shoulder 46the latter having a slot 47 formed therein having a bottom edge 48 andwhich is wider at its open end 47a than at its closed end 47b. This slotis adapted to receive pin 42 at any of the three positions, A, B and C,to which it is selectively adjustable by manipulation of lever 44. Aswill become apparent hereinafter, position A is a fabric ribbon positionoperative to impart a full stroke to the vibrator arms so that typingwill occur on the lower field of a fabric ribbon. Position B is a fabricribbon position as well as a carbon ribbon position. With the apparatusconditioned for fabric ribbon and with lever 44 in the B position thevibrator arms can effect only a partial stroke so that typing will occuron the upper field of a fabric ribbon; with the apparatus conditionedfor carbon ribbon and with lever 44 in the B position the vibrator armswill effect partial and full strokes alternately. Position C is astencil position and is used when the apparatus is conditioned forfabric ribbon. Vibrator body 45 and shoulder 46 lie between the sides37a and 37b of arm 37 and when the parts are in their normal position(FIGURE 2) the bottom edges of slots 41 are in registry with bottom edge48 (FIGURE 1A) of slot 47, pin 42 resting thereon in its B position. Ifnow lever 39 is driven counterclockwise (FIGURES 1 and 2) actuating arm34 will be rocked clockwise thus forcing pin 42 against slot edge 48 onvibrator arm 25 causing this arm as well as arm 24 to rockcounterclockwise and partially elevate ribbon supports 26 and 27.

As shown in FIGURE 1B, shaft is mounted on a part of frame 20. As notedabove bell crank 70 is secured to shaft 40 and has an arm 700 that isconnected to the drive mechanism (not shown) of the machine. The otherarm 7% of bell crank 76 is drivingly connected in any suitable manner toa shaft '72 reciprocally mounted in frame 20, the upper end of thisshaft carrying a matrix or printing head 73. Vibrator arms 24 and 25(FIGURE 1) straddle head 73 (FIGURE 1B) as also do ribbon supports 130and 27 which accordingly support the ribbon near the printing head atthe printing position during a printing operation. Thus when crank 70 isdriven head 73 and ribbon supports 13% and 27 are elevated so that atype character on head '73 and the ribbon are presented at the printingposition where a hammer 74, driven by any suitable mechanism (not shown)effects an imprint in the well known manner.

Full and partial stroke mechanism As noted above, one of the objects ofthe invention is to conserve carbon ribbon and materially reduce theincidence and inconvenience of replacing used with new ribbon. Aconventional carbon ribbon 76 after use is il- 4 lustrated in FIGURE 8,this ribbon being about wide. The misalignment of the characters istypical and results from flutter of the flimsy strip as it shuttlesbetween rest and printing positions. Indeed it has been known to happenin very high speed typewriter operation that the ribbon flutter isoccasionally so great that only a fraction of a character will beprinted. As also noted above, I prefer to use a carbon ribbon about A2"wide. In FIG URE 9 I have illustrated the appearance of such a ribbon RCafter use. Through utilization of mechanism to be described, thecharacters occur in two lines with successive characters in the upperand lower lines being spaced but one half of an escapement space andbeing in horizontal alignment, the latter characteristic resulting fromuse of a wider than normal ribbon, with resulting reduction in flutter,the support attained by ribbon supports and 27 as described above and aribbon feeding device described below. FIGURE 10 illustrates copy 77produced by either of the FIGURE 8 or FIGURE 9 ribbons.

In order to attain the letter character relationship shown in FIGURE 9the vibrator arms 24 and 25 are alternately driven full and partialstrokes. On the full stroke the ribbon is given maximum elevation andaccordingly prints through the lower half. On the partial stroke theribbon prints through the upper half as it is elevated less than on thefull stroke. After each imprint, the escapement mechanism (not shown) inthe machine advances the carriage so that the succeeding imprint isproperly spaced from the preceding one. The ribbon feed mechanism,however, advances the ribbon only one half of an escapement spacebetween successive half and full strokes of the vibrator resulting inthe staggered letter character relation shown in FIGURE 9. Thus with aribbon only slightly wider than a conventional one, the printingcapacity of a spool of ribbon is substantially doubled as accordingly isits replacement perfod. As the cost of the /1" ribbon is substantiallythe same as the 7 size the economy and convenience attained areapparent.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, 11 and 12, I provide a cam and ratchetcombination, generally indicated at 50, which may be integrally moldedfrom a suitable plastic such as nylon, for example. The cam 51 of thecombination preferably takes the general form of a Maltese cross andcomprises symmetrically arranged cam surfaces 52 with adjacent surfacesbeing separated by radially extending valleys 53 respectively. In otherwords, surfaces 52 and valleys 53 are arranged in quadrature. Theratchet of combination 50 comprises a wheel 54 (FIGURE 11) having teeth54a and 55a arranged in quadrature, the latter being arcuately spacedfrom teeth 54a. Thus the ratchet 54 has, in effect, four arcuatelyspaced pairs of teeth, each pair comprising a tooth 54a and a tooth 55awith the valley 56 between each pair of teeth being generaily alignedwith the adjacent valley 53 of cam 51. A relatively elongated camsurface or land 57 extends between each tooth 54a and its adjacentcounterclockwise tooth 55a on ratchet wheel 54, the lands 57respectively lying adjacent to cam surfaces 52 but being spaced radiallyinwardly thereof.

Cam and ratchet combination 50 has an axial hole 58 whereby it may berotatably mounted on a pin 59 (FIG- URES l and 2) secured to the lowerportion of arm body 45. Thus when arm 25 is rocked up and down asdescribed above, cam and ratchet 50 move with body 45, rotation of thecam and ratchet being effected as a result of down movement of the armas will be described below. A pawl 60 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 11) is pivotallymounted on a pin 61 secured to frame 20 and is biased counterclockwiseby a spring 62 so that its tooth 6% tracks along the ath defined byteeth 54a and 55a on ratchet wheel 54. Another pawl 63 is pivotallymounted on a pin 64 secured to vibrator arm body 45 and is biasedcounterclockwise by a spring 65 so that its tooth 63a tracks over thesame path as that of pawl tooth 60a. Cam and ratchet combination 50together with pawl 60 coact with a drive pin 68 (FIG- URES 1 and 2)mounted on drive arm 37 to effect the alternate full and half strokedrives of vibrator arms 24 and 25, referred to hereinabove, in -a mannernow to be described.

Carbon ribbon 0perati0n-fnll stroke The vibrator mechanism shown invarious conditions in FIGURES, 2-7 is directed mostly to carbon ribbonvibration and accordingly no reference, in this connection will be madeto fabric ribbon vibration. The full stroke operation of the vibratorwill be described first. For brevity, the movements of vibrator arm 25only will be referred to, it being understood that vibrator arm 24partakes of the same movements.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the several parts are in inactive or rest positionbut are conditioned for a full stroke vibrator cycle. Thus pin 42 iscentrally positioned in drive arm slot 41 where it may be forceddownwardly by the top edge of the slot against the bottom edge 45 ofvibrator arm shoulder slot 47 (see also FIGURE 1A) when drive arm 37 isdriven clockwise in the manner described above. Also cam 51 is sopositioned that its twelve oclock surface 52 slightly underlies a drivepin 68 secured to drive arm 37 so as to be engaged by the pin afterpartial downward movement thereof by arm 37.

As shown in FIGURE 3, arm 37 has driven pin 42 downwardly from itsFIGURE 2 position and in so doing has rocked vibrator arm 25 upwardlyabout pivot 22, the moment arm for this portion of the upward movementof the vibrator arm extending between the centers of pin 42 and pivot22. Also this extent of movement of drive arm 37 moves drive pin 68 intoengagement with said surface 52 of cam 51, the centers of pin 68 andpivot 22 now constituting the moment arm for vibrator arm 25 which isshorter than moment arm 4222. During this movement of arm 25, its body45 rocks counterclockwise carrying cam and ratchet 50 with it so as tomove ratchet tooth 55a (at five oclock) away from tooth 60a of pawl 66,land 57 of the ratchet accordingly sliding across the pawl tooth. FIGURE2A diagrammatically illustrates the transition of the mechanism from theFIGURE 2 condition to that of FIGURE 3, the full lines indicating theFIGURE 2 condition, the FIGURE 3 condition being shown in broken lines.From this diagram it may be seen how drive pin 68 takes over from pin 42(the broken line position) with consequent shortening of the moment armfrom 42-22 to 6822 and with lengthening of the power or drive arm 37from 35-42 (full line) to 35-68 (broken line). Thus the leverage ismaximum at the start of the cycle where inertia is maximum and momentumminimum, and minimum when inertia is minimum and momentum has beenattained. Also during this portion of the cycle, velocity of the severallever arms smoothly increases from Zero to maximum.

As crank 36 continues to drive arm 37 clockwise from the FIGURE 3position to that shown in FIGURE 4, the full up stroke of vibrator arm25 is completed. As pointed out above, at the FIGURE 3 position, pin 68has taken over from pin 42 to transfer the driving force of drive arm 37to pin 68. Thus pin 68 bears downwardly against surface 52 of cam 51,which, being fastened to arm 25 by pin 59, continues to rock the armupwardly as drive pin 68 forces the cam down. This action continuesuntil the end of the forward stroke of crank 36 at which time arm 25 andribbon support 27 reach their uppermost positions. At this point returnspring 26a reaches its maximum tension. It should be noted that followerpin 31 on ribbon support lever 33 stops short of the top of slot 29athus to avoid a jarring and noisy impact against guide 22.

FIGURE 3A diagrammatically illustrates the transition of the mechanismfrom its FIGURE 3 condition (broken lines) to that of FIGURE 4 (dot-dashlines). Thus it will appear that as crank 36 and power arm 37 move fromtheir broken line to their dot-dash line positions, arm 25 decelerates,with its velocity becoming zero at the top of the arms stroke whereribbon support 27 presents the lower half of ribbon R at the printingposition. Thus the vibrator arm 25 and accordingly the ribbon supportand ribbon are smoothly decelerated, greatly reducing the tendency ofthe flimsy ribbon to flutter and making pos sible the letter characteralignment shown in FIGURE 9.

The complete cycle of crank pin 38, drive pins 42 and 65 and arm 25 isillustrated in the chart shown in FIG- URE 43, where the symbol Trepresents time and the symbol D represents displacement, a half cycle(FIG- URES 24) being diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 4A which is acomposite of FIGURES 2A and 3A. Thus at rest position (FIGURE 2) crankand drive pins 38 and 42 are shown at TD in FIGURE 4B. From FIG- URE 2position to FIGURE 3 position the pins move to T D and arm 25accelerates from TD to T D At this point pin 68 takes over the drivefrom pin 42, as described above, and moves from T D to T --D while crankpin 38 moves from T --D to T D arm 25 accordingly decelerating to a stopat T D which marks the top of its full upstroke at the end of the firsthalf of the cycle.

During movement of arm 25 from the FIGURE 3 to the FIGURE 4 position,cam and ratchet 50 (FIG- URE 4) are swung farther away from tooth 69a ofpawl 66 so that at the end of the full stroke of arm 25, the pawl toothhas slid over ratchet tooth 540 (at six oclock) and rests clockwise ofthis tooth.

Vibrator arm 25 and ribbon support 27 having completed their full upstroke, return spring 26a becomes eifective to return the parts from theFIGURE 4 to the FIGURE 6 position wherein the mechanism is in conditionfora partial stroke cycle. As noted above, at the top of the fullstroke, pawl tooth 60a (FIGURE 4) rests against ratchet 54 close to oragainst six-oclock tooth 54a. Accordingly as arm 25 is pulled down orclockwise by spring 26a, ratchet 54 is swung to the left causingsix-oclock tooth 54a to engage pawl tooth 60a. As ratchet 54 continuesto swing to the left to the FIGURE 5 position, the ratchet is rotated orindexed by pawl 60 counterclockwise moving five-oclock tooth 55a (FIGURE4) to four-oclock (FIGURE 5) and eleven-oclock tooth 55a (FIGURE 4) toten-oclock (FIGURE 5) away [from tooth 63a of pawl 63. During thismovement c am surface 52 slide along and bears against drive pin 68which, being under the control of crank 36, can move no faster than thecrank and accordingly acts as a governor for arm 25 during its movementby spring 2611 to the FIGURE 5 position. This action is diagrammaticallyillustrated in FIGURE 4A, i.e. arm 25 and the other parts move from thedot-dash positions to the broken line positions under the bias of returnspring 26a. Thus, with reference to FIGURE 4B, arm 25 and pin 63accelerate from T D to T D at which point pin 42 is engaged by shoulderslot edge 48 and takes over the governing action of pin 68.

As the parts continue to move from the FIGURE 5 position to the FIGURE 6or rest position ratchet 54 continues to index counterclockwise causingtwelve-oclock tooth 54a (FIGURE 5) to ride under and past pawl tooth 63ato eleven-oclock (FIGURE 6) at which point cam valley 53 underlies pin68. Thus cam and ratchet 50 has been indexed a suitable extent from theFIGURE 2 position. Also the several members of the linkage (see FIGURE4A) move from the broken line position to their rest position (solidlines) and the mechanism is conditioned for a partial stroke cycle. Thislast portion of the return cycle is illustrated on the chart (FIGURE4B). Thus pin 42 (which is now governing the return stroke of arm 25)and arm 25 decelerate from T -D to T D, the end of the full strokecycle.

Partial stroke As noted above the several parts of the mechanism when intheir FIGURE 6 positions, are conditioned for a partial vibrator strokecycle whereby the upper half of the carbon ribbon is presented at theprinting position. Thus twelve-oclock cam valley 53 underlies drive pin63, which, accordingly, cannot engage any portion of cam 51; pawl tooth63a rests in twelve-oclock ratchet valley 56 between eleven-oclock tooth54a and one-oclock tooth 55a; and pawl tooth 60a rests in five-oclockratchet valley 56 counterclockwise of six-oclock ratchet tooth 55a.Accordingly, upon actuation of drive arm 37, drive pin 42 rocks vibratorarm to the FIGURE 7 position (see also FIGURE 3A). In so doing drive pin68 enters cam valley 53 and exerts no driving force on cam 51 and arm 25as would impart a full stroke to the arm as described above. Hence thefull throw of drive pin i2 imparts a partial stroke to arm 25 as topresent the upper half of the carbon ribbon at the printing position andtension return spring 26a.

During such partial upstroke of arm 25, ratchet 54 is swung to the rightaway from pawl tooth 661a which accordingly slide over six-oclockratchet tooth 55a and comes to rest (FIGURE 7) clockwise of this tooth.Thus upon downward return movement of'arm 25 by return spring 26a,ratchet 54 is indexed counterclockwise by pawl tooth 60a bearing againstthe face of six-oclock ratchet tooth causing the ratchet and accordinglycam 51 to index to the FIGURE 2 position wherein the twelve-oclock camsurface 52 underlies drive pin as to complete the partial stroke cycleand recondition the parts for a full stroke cycle. It may now be eenthat successive full and partial strokes of vibrator arm 25 and ribbonsupport 27 result in the type character disposition shown in FIGURE 9.

Thus in brief, during the first half cycle of operation, arm 25 isdriven a full or partial stroke, depending on whether a cam surface 52or a cam valley 53 is positioned under drive pin 68 at the start of thecycle. During the second half of the cycle, cam '51 is indexed toposition the next cam surface or valley, as the case may be, beneath pin68 in preparation for the start of the next cycle. Accordingly, theupper and lower halves of the ribbon, or vice versa, are alternatelypresented at the printing point.

It should be noted in connection with FIGURE 1A that the fullstroke-partial stroke operation is effected only when drive pin 4-2 isin the B position and pawl 60 is in an operative position relative toratchet 54. When, as will hereinafter appear, the apparatus isconditioned for fabric ribbon, pawl 60 will be rendered inoperative andcam 54 will be rotated to present a cam valley 53 in the path of pin 68,so that with drive pin 42 in the B position only a partial strokeoperation is possible. If pin 42 is moved to position A by manipulationof lever 44 only a full stroke will result as the moment arm 42-22 isshortened to the same length as moment arm 68432 described above. Theexclusive partial or full stroke operations are provided when it isdesired to use a two color fabric ribbon instead of a carbon ribbon aswill be described in greater detail below. Pin position C is provided sothat no ribbon vibration occurs during a printing cycle as where thetypist is cutting .a stencil. With pin 42 in this position it will beseen that the pin cannot engage vibrator arm slot edge 48 upon actuationof drive arm 37; hence arm .25 will not be driven.

While the foregoing description has been directed to a ribbon vibratorfor use on a matrix typewriter wherein the vibrator moves with thematrix or printing head which, in effect, constitutes the platen, it isto be understood that this mechanism may, with minor modification, beused with equal effectiveness in a machine having a conventionalhorizontally movable platen.

Ribbon feed A conventional carbon ribbon can be used but once, i.e. itmay not be reversed when the supply spool is exhausted. On the otherhand, a one or two color fabric ribbon is reusable. Accordingly, theribbon feed mecha- 8 nism must be capable of feeding carbon ribbon inone direction only through the ribbon supports and also must be capableof feeding a one or two color fabric ribbon in forward and reversedirections. Thu when the ribbon vibrator is set for carbon ribbon, theribbon feed mechanism should be so conditioned that it will feed ribbononly in proper direction, i.e. from the supply to the take-up spool.Still further provision should be made, when two color fabric ribbonreplaces carbon ribbon, to assure that the vibrator is in propercondition to present the color band selected at the first printingoperation thus to avoid spoilage of copy and waste of time. It isaccordingly another object of this invention to provide such amechanism.

Fabric ribbon The ribbon feed mechanism and the drive therefore areshown in FIGURES 14 and 15 respectively. Crank an is pivotally securedas by a pin to one end of a link 81 the other end of which is pinned bya pin 82 to a lever 83 fastened to a shaft $4 mounted in frame 20 foroscillatory movement Thlfs, when crank 36 is driven about pivot 35 inthe manner described above to rock the vibrator arms, link 81 and lever83 oscillate shaft 84.

A pair of actuating arms 85L and 85R are connected to the ends of driveshaft 34 respectively so as to oscillate therewith, the upper ends ofthese arms being provided with spring anchor lugs 86L and 86R to whichthe outer ends of springs 87L and 87R are respectively attached. Theinner ends of these springs are respectively connected to legs 89L andSfiR of drive forks 91L and 91R which are respectively pivotally mountedon a pair of ribbon spool spindles 93L and 93R secured indirectly to themachine frame 29. Springs 87L and 87R resiliently hold arms 35L and 85Ragainst fork legs 89L and 89R thus to impart a cushioned drive theretoin counterclockwise direction (FIGURE 15) and a positive drive inclockwise direction which is ribbon feed direction of movement. It mightbe noted that the ribbon feed mechanism, as shown in FIGURE 14, is incondition to feed carbon ribbon, i.e. it is conditioned to feed ribbonfrom a supply spool WZL on spindle 93L to a take-up spool lltIZR onspindle 93R, the latter accordingly being driven as will be described indetail below.

With reference to FIGURES l4 and 20 (and to FIG- URE 16 which showscorresponding left machine parts) fork 91R includes another leg 95Rcarrying at its end a pin 97R on which a drive pawl 98R is pivotallymounted, the pawl being biased clockwise by a spring 95R so that itstooth 92R may drivingly engage a ratchet wheel 99R mounted on spindle93R. Thus when actuating arm 85R is driven clockwise (FIGURE 15) afteran imprint has been made, fork 91R (FIGURE 14) is pivoted clockwisecausing pawl 98R to drive ratchet 99R a distance of one ratchet toothper cycle to wind ribbon. A no-back pawl MMIR is spring biased againstthe ratchet to prevent reverse rotation thereof during ribbon feed. Thispawl is pivotally mounted on a base plate 101R that underlies fork 91Rand a reversing disc 103R that is pivotally mounted on spindle 93R,plate 101R being secured to frame Ztl in any suitable manner. Disc 103Rincludes an arm 194R to which is secured one end of a link 165 whichconnects the right hand spool mechanism with the left hand spoolmechanism whereby the mechanisms may be automatically reversed as willbe described below. Disc 103R also includes a lug 106R which anchors oneend of an overcentering spring 107R the other end of which is secured toplate 101R, this spring being provided to effect fabric ribbon feedreversal as will be described.

A pair of pawl baffles 108R and 109R are formed on disc 103R fordisabling feed pawl 93R and no-back pawl 160R respectively when thefabric ribbon feed is reversed by clockwise rotation (FIGURE 14) of disc103R. A slot 110R is formed in disc 103R adjacent baflle 109R to receivea lug 111R upstruck from base plate 101R, which limits the extent ofarcuate counterclockwise movement of disc 103R by spring 107R. An ear112R projects from disc 103R and pivotally supports a reversing lever113R having two arms 114R and 115R, the lever being spring biasedcounterclockwise, arm 115R bearing against a lip 116R on disc 103R tolimit its counterclockwise movement.

Spindles 93R and 93L carry ribbon spool mounts, such as mount 120(FIGURES 17 and 18) adapted to receive a ribbon cartridge generallyindicated at 121. The cartridge may be loaded either with carbon (FIGURE17) or fabric (FIGURE 18) ribbon RC or RF respectively. Mount 120(FIGURE 18) includes a core 122, having an axial bore 122:: whichreceives spindle 931., for example. Ratchet 99L preferably comprises anintegral part of mount 121), a shoulder 123 being provided to supportcartridge 121. Mount 120 is recessed as at 124 to re ceive a reversingflipper 125 pivotally mounted on a pin 126 and preferably spring urgedclockwise, whereby in the absence of fabric ribbon RF it will pivot toits broken line reversing position dropping its arm 125a to a positionto engage reversing lever arm 114L (FIGURE 14).

The left hand portion of the mechanism, insofar as fabric ribbon feed isconcerned, is substantially identical to the right hand portion justdescribed, similar left hand elements accordingly being designated bythe sutfix L. Thus, as more clearly shown in FIGURE 16, the left handportion includes the several elements 89L, 91L 101L, 103L, 1041s,106L-111L, 113L-116L, and 126 which are identical to right hand elements83R, 91R- 101R, 103R, 104R, 105, 106R111R, 113R-115R, and 126, shown inFIGURE 20, with the exception of base plates 101R and 11L and discs 163Rand 103L; plate 101R and disc 103R having portions that come into useonly when carbon ribbon is used as will be described below.

Assuming the mechanism to be loaded with a cartridge 121 (FIGURES 14 and19) carrying two color fabric ribbon RF with the ribbon substantiallyexhausted from the left hand spool, flipper arm 125a drops to the brokenline position (FIGURE 18) where, upon continued clockwise movement ofratchet 99L, it will ultimately engage reversing lever arm 114L and rocklever 113L counterclockwise against the bias of its spring thereby tomove its other arm 115L counterclockwise into the path of movement of atip 94L on leg 131L of fork 91L. When the fork is driven clockwise, itstip 94L will engage arm 115L and accordingly drive disc 163L and its arm1tl4L clockwise. This movement of the disc swings its baflles 108L and109L away from drive and no-back pawls 93L and 100L respectively thuspermitting their engagement with ratchet 99L whereby continuedoscillation of fork 91L now drives ratchet 99L counterclockwise to windribbon on its spool. It should be noted that after fork tip 94L drivesreversing pawl 113L and accordingly disc 103L part way, spring 17Lovercenters to complete the reversing action of the pawl and disc.

By virtue of the connecting link 105 (FIGURE 14) between discs 1031. and103R, the latter is also swung clockwise thus to interpose its baffies108R and 109R between ratchet 99R and drive and no -back pawls 98R and100R respectively to immobilize these pawls and permit the right handspool to free wheel as ribbon is withdrawn therefrom. When the righthand spool is substantially exhausted of ribbon it is reversed in thesame manner as described with respect to the left hand spool.

Carbon ribbon feed When carbon ribbon rather than fabric ribbon is used,the left hand spool in cartridge 121 is always the supply spool andaccordingly free wheels during ribbon feed, whereas the right hand spoolin the cartridge is always the take-up spool and is accordingly drivenin take-up direction, clockwise in FIGURE 14, by drive pawl 98R. Acarbon ribbon spool is shown in FIGURE 17 as a part of ribbon cartridge121 and comprises a core 132 on which, in the case of the right hand ortake-up spool, carbon ribbon RC is wound during ribbon feed operation.Core 132 is adapted to be mounted on post 112, any suitable drivingconnection, such as a friction fit, for example, between core 132 andpost 122 being provided. It will be noted that when core 132 is in placeit holds flipper in inoperative position thus to preclude automaticreversal of the mechanism.

As shown in FIGURES 14 and 20, base plate 101R includes a support 133 onwhich an arm 134 is pivotally mounted and spring biased clockwise, acarbon ribbon pressure roller 135 being carried by the free end of thearm. A carbon ribbon feed roller 136 is rotatably mounted on the end ofsupport 133 and has a ratchet 137 attached thereto and adapted to bedriven by a pawl 138 pivotally mounted on the upper leg of a U-shapedlever 139 and spring biased counterclockwise toward ratchet 137. Lever139 is pivotally secured at one end to support 133, the end of the lowerleg of lever 139 having a drive pin 14%) mounted thereon which extendsthrough a slot 141 formed in a tab 142 that projects from fork 91R. Itmay now be seen that when fork 91R is oscillated as described above, tab142 drives pin to rock arm 139 forth and back causing pawl 138 to driveratchet 137 and feed roller 136 incrementally counterclockwise whichwith roller 135 tension the ribbon and feed it toward the right handtake-up spool which is driven as described above to wind the used ribbonthereon. Ratchet 137 is so toothed that the ribbon feed increment isabout one half of a letter space thus resulting in the staggered typecharacter arrangement shown in FIGURE 9.

As pointed out above, it is necessary, when carbon ribbon is being used,that the ribbon be fed in one direction only, namely from left to right(FIGURE 14) in the embodiment of the invention disclosed. Accordingly,means are provided to assure that ratchet 99R is driven so that itsassociated spool will be the take-up spool. Thus a bar 145 is slidablymounted in any suitable manner on frame 20 and has a slot 146 throughwhich a limit pin 147, fastened to the frame, extends to limit slidingmovement of the bar. Bar 145 also has a diagonal cam slot 148 thereinthrough which a pin 149 extends. This pin is mounted on one end of aslide arm, generally indicated at 150 (see FIGURE 14A), the oppositeends of this arm being in the form of cams 151 and 152 respectively. Thearm is provided with a pair of guide slots 153 and 154 through whichextend frame mounted pins 155 and 156 respectively. Pin 149 is alsomounted on arm 150. A pusher lip 157 extends from arm 150 and isadapted. to engage a pin 158 secured to disc 103R and rotate the disc toits FIGURE 14 position when the arm is moved to the right, that beingthe position of the disc which permits the driving relation between pawl98R and ratchet 99R. Cam 152 on arm 150 is adapted to engage a lip 159on carbon ribbon feed pawl 138, when the arm is moved to the left (forfabric ribbon feed), to swing the pawl away from ratchet 137 and thusdisable feed roller 136.

Arm 150 is operated by bar 145.. Thus when carbon ribbon is to be usedbar 145 is slid to its FIGURE 14 position. In so moving, arm pin 149rides along dagonal bar slot 148 and arm 150 is forced to the rightmoving its cam 152 away from pawl 138 to permit the pawl to engage andaccordingly drive ratchet 137 and ribbon feed roller 136.

Substitution of fabric for carbon ribbon As pointed out above when afabric ribbon such as a two color fabric ribbon is installed, the lever44 will be positioned in the A or B positions depending on whether theupper or lower band of the fabric ribbon is to be used.

Further as noted above bar 145 is pulled outwardly from the FIGURE 14position when fabric ribbon is installed and thereby, as describedbelow, will cause the cam 50 to rotate and present a cam valley 53, ifit is not then so positioned, to pin 68 whereby pin 42 will do all thevibra- 1 ll tor driving; a partial stroke when in the B position and afull stroke in the A position. The movement of bar 145 to the fabricposition also disengages pawl 60 so that no movement of the cam andratchet can occur.

The cam 151 (FIGURES 11-13) is adapted, upon movement of arm 150 to theleft, to engage a lug 6017 on pawl 60 and pivot the pawl out ofengagement with ratchet 54 accordingly precluding indexing operation ofcam and ratchet 50. Also bar 145 (FIGURE 14) is provided with a cam 145a(see also FIGURES 11, 12) which is adapted to engage one or another ofstuds 160, extending in quadrature from ratchet 54, if one of the studshappens to lie in the path of movement of cam 145a. As adjacent studslie at opposite sides of a cam valley 53, engagement of one of them bybar 145, as it moves from the FIGURE 12 to the FIGURE 11 position,rotates cam 52 sufiiciently to position one of its vlalleys 53 beneathdrive pin 68 thus disabling the pin and precluding an improper up strokeof the vibrator arms. Thus the selected color band of the fabric ribbonas determined by the setting of bichrome lever 44 (FIGURE 1A) will bepresented at the printing position on the first up stroke of thevibrator arms.

It may now be seen that I have provided a ribbon handling mechanism thatattains the several objects set forth above in a thoroughly practicaland efficient manner.

As other embodiments of the invention are possible and as changes may bemade in the one disclosed without departing from the scope of theinvention it is to be understood that the foregoing should beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Typewriter ribbon feeding mechanism for operation in a first modewith a carbon ribbon being wound from a carbon ribbon supply spool to acarbon ribbon take-up spool and for operation in a second mode with afabric ribbon being wound from a fabric ribbon supply spool to a fabricribbon take-up spool comprising,

a frame,

a vibrator arm rockably mounted .on said frame and having a ribbonsupport secured thereto, two ribbon spindles each adapted to befrictionally coupled to either a different one of said carbon ribbonspools or a different one of said fabric ribbon spools,

ribbon spindle index means to unidirectionaly irreversibly rotate apredetermined one of said spindles a character space increment duringeach type stroke in said first mode of operaton and to undirectionallyrotate either of said ribbon spindles a character space increment duringeach type stroke in said second mode of operation,

tensioning means to engage and transport said carbon ribbon in saidfirst mode of operation only,

drive means reciprocally operative through a uniform stroke insynchronism with each typing cycle, engaging means connecting saidribbon spindle index means and said tensioning means to said drivemeans, disengaging means for disconnecting said tensioning means fromsaid engaging means in said second mode .of operation,

and coupling means for connecting said drive means to said vibrator arm.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means in saidfirst mode of operation includes variable coupling means conditionablein response to successive typing strokes whereby the amplitude ofmovement imparted to said vibrator arm by said drive means alternatelyvaries about a reference amplitude, said disengaging means in saidsecond mode of operation being operative to disable said variablecoupling means.

3. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said engag- 70 ing meansdrives said predetermined ribbon spindle through a distance larger thanthe distance said tensioning means drives said carbon ribbon.

4. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said engaging means drivessaid predetermined ribbon spindle through twice the distance saidtensioning means drives said carbon ribbon.

5. Typewriter ribbon feeding mechanism for unidirectionally reversiblytransporting a fabric ribbon from a first ribbon spool to a secondribbon spool or unidirectionally irreversibly transporting a carbonribbon from a predetermined first ribbon spool to a second ribbon spoolcomprising,

a frame,

a vibrator arm rockably mounted on said frame and having a ribbonsupport secured thereto,

a first and second ribbon spindle adapted to frictionally mount eithercarbon ribbon spools or fabric ribbon spools,

ribbon spindle mechanism connected to rotate one or the other of saidspindles,

ribbon reversing mechanism mounted on said spindles and operable whenthe ribbon is exhausted to effect the connection and disconnection ofsaid spindle mechanism from one to the other of said spindles, saidcarbon ribbon spools rendering said reversing mechanism ineffective whensaid carbon ribbon spools are mounted on said spindles,

tensioning means located in close proximity to said second ribbonspindle to transport a carbon ribbon and adapted to be renderedineffective when a fabric ribbon spool is mounted on said ribbonspindles,

drive means reciprocally operative through a uniform stroke insynchronism with each typing cycle,

means connecting said ribbon spindle mechanism and said tensioning meansto said drive means,

coupling means for connecting said drive means to said vibrator arm toeffect uniform motion from a rest position when a fabric ribbon is to beused and to effect an alternately varying motion about a referenceamplitude when a carbon ribbon is to be used,

and disabling means adapted when fabric ribbon is to be used to rendersaid tensioning means ineffective and simultaneously to operate on saidcoupling means so that uniform motion may be transmitted to saidvibrator arm and adapted when carbon ribbon is to be used to connectsaid ribbon spindle mechanism to said second ribbon spindle so that saidcarbon ribbon will always be transported in only one direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,255 3/1893Densmore 197-167 581,500 4/1897 Webb 197-167 662,147 11/1900 Gabrielson197-158 949,257 2/ 1910 Barney 197-158 1,064,703 6/1913 Brown 197-1571,211,203 1/1917 McLaughlin 197-157 X 2,161,856 6/1939 Coxhead 197-1512,692,556 10/1954 Anderson 197-157 X 2,747,718 5/1956 May 197-1572,840,218 6/ 1958 Pelton 197-158 X 2,902,136 9/1959 Whippo 197-1652,919,008 12/1959 Whippo 197-157 2,986,260 5/1961 Whippo 197-1513,048,254 8/1962 Morris 197-151 3,171,530 3/1965 ODaniel et a1. 197-15]FOREIGN PATENTS 16,563 1913 Great Britain. 3 81,472 10/ 1932 GreatBritain.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. T. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

1. TYPEWRITER RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR OPERATION IN A FIRST MODE WITH A CARBON RIBBON BEING WOUND FROM A CARBON RIBBON SUPPLY SPOOL TO A CARBON RIBBON TAKE-UP SPOOL AND FOR OPERATION IN A SECOND MODE WITH A FABRIC RIBBON BEING WOUND FROM A FABRIC RIBBON SUPPLY SPOOL TO A FABRIC RIBBON TAKE-UP SPOOL COMPRISING, A FRAME, A VIBRATOR ARM ROCKABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING A RIBBON SUPPORT SECURED THERETO, TWO RIBBON SPINDLES EACH ADAPTED TO BE FRICTIONALLY COUPLED TO EITHER A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CARBON RIBBON SPOOLS OR A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID FABRIC RIBBON SPOOLS, RIBBON SPINDLE INDEX MEANS TO UNIDIRECTIONALY IRREVERSIBLY ROTATE A PREDETERMINED ONE OF SAID SPINDLES A CHARACTER SPACE INCREMENT DURING EACH TYPE STROKE IN SAID FIRST MODE OF OPERATION AND TO UNDIRECTIONALLY ROTATE EITHER OF SAID RIBBON SPINDLES A CHARACTER SPACE INCREMENT DURING EACH TYPE STROKE IN SAID SECOND MODE OF OPERATION, TENSIONING MEANS TO ENGAGE AND TRANSPORT SAID CARBON RIBBON IN SAID FIRST MODE OF OPERATION ONLY, DRIVE MEANS RECIPROCALLY OPERATIVE THROUGH A UNIFORM STROKE IN SYNCHRONISM WITH EACH TYPING CYCLE, ENGAGING MEANS CONNECTING SAID RIBBON SPINDLE INDEX MEANS AND SAID TENSIONING MEANS TO SAID DRIVE MEANS, DISENGAGING MEANS FOR DISCONNECTING SAID TENSIONING MEANS FROM SAID ENGAGING MEANS IN SAID SECOND MODE OF OPERATION, AND COUPLING MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO SAID VIBRATOR ARM. 